A clear message': Congress up in arms after Israel sanctions report
An Israeli newspaper report that the Obama administration is
considering sanctions against settlement construction in the West Bank
and East Jerusalem is causing a stir in Congress.
Haaretz reported Thursday, citing senior Israeli officials, that there was a classified discussion at the White House a few weeks ago about the possibility of taking action to stop the construction, rather than just denouncing it. The daily said the discussion was a sign of how far relations have deteriorated between the Obama administration and the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
White House and State Department officials refused Friday to comment on the report, but lawmakers were quick to act.
Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., released a letter signed by him and 47 other lawmakers demanding Obama "clarify these reports immediately."
"Such reports send a clear message to our friends and enemies
alike that such alliances with the United States government can no
longer be unquestionably trusted," the letter said. "Further, at no
point in time has Congress given the administration the authority to
sanction Israel."
The letter also refers to legislation cleared by the House on Wednesday which declares Israel a "major strategic partner" of the United States.
The lawmakers also made reference to the fact that the administration has strongly resisted legislation to impose new sanctions on Iran, a point also made by Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., co-author of the Iran sanctions bill.
"This move only worsens perceptions that the administration treats our friends like enemies and our enemies like friends," Kirk said Friday.
Haaretz reported Thursday, citing senior Israeli officials, that there was a classified discussion at the White House a few weeks ago about the possibility of taking action to stop the construction, rather than just denouncing it. The daily said the discussion was a sign of how far relations have deteriorated between the Obama administration and the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
White House and State Department officials refused Friday to comment on the report, but lawmakers were quick to act.
Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., released a letter signed by him and 47 other lawmakers demanding Obama "clarify these reports immediately."
The letter also refers to legislation cleared by the House on Wednesday which declares Israel a "major strategic partner" of the United States.
The lawmakers also made reference to the fact that the administration has strongly resisted legislation to impose new sanctions on Iran, a point also made by Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., co-author of the Iran sanctions bill.
"This move only worsens perceptions that the administration treats our friends like enemies and our enemies like friends," Kirk said Friday.
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